April 7, 2021
A roundup of domestic and international news.
Newsroom, 07.04.2021, 13:55
GOVERNMENT – The Romanian Government intends to unblock, in today’s meeting, the state aid for the medical units affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Also today, the Government will pass an order under which parents who return to work sooner than 6 months after the birth of their child will receive a reinsertion allowance of 300 euros. Labor Minister Raluca Turcan hopes that, by increasing this allowance, at least 25% of the employees on parental leave will return to work. According to Turcan, the draft emergency order supports the employers, by offering them more labor force, as well as the employees, by lowering the risk of deprofessionalisation. A memorandum regarding the procedure of appointing Romania’s candidate for the position of judge with the EU Tribunal will also be discussed today.
CLIMATE CHANGE — Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is today attending an event dubbed ”Climate Change, the Human-Nature Relationship and Public Health” that marks World Health Day, staged by the Presidential Administration and the World Health Organisation’s Office for Romania. Talks will focus on the impact of climate change on public health, the relation between environment degradation and pandemics and measures to strenghthen the Romanian health system’s resilience to these chalenges. Attending the event is the head of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Hans Kluge, representtaives of the UN Environment Programme, of the European Parliament and of the Romanian Government and Parliament.
CORONAVIRUS – More than 5,400 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed today in Romania, out of more than 40,000 tests. Most new cases have been reported in Bucharest. Also, another 175 covid-related fatalities have been announced. Almost 14,000 people are treated in hospitals, of whom 1,487 in ICUs. The anti-Covid immunization campaign is under way in Romania, with over 2,100,000 people having received at least the first dose of the vaccine.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS — Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu is today paying an official visit to Italy, at the invitation of his counterpart Luigi Di Maio. According to a communique by the Foreign Ministry, Aurescu will hold talks with Di Maio and also with Senate Speaker Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati. Ways of boosting economic, political and sectoral cooperation between Romania and Italy, with an emphasis on cooperation at EU level to combat the effects of the pandemic are on the meetings’ agenda. Also during the visit, Aurescu will hold a videoconference with the heads of Romania’s consular offices in Italy, focusing on the reform of consular services and on topical issues regarding the Romanian community in Italy. The Romania official will also attend the decoration ceremony of people who have conducted charitable work in support of the Romanian community since the start the pandemic.
TENNIS — Camila Giorgi (WTA 80), the best player of Italy’s tennis team tested positive to Covid-19 and will not participate in the match against Romania, in the Billie Jean Cup play-off. Camila Giorgi will be replaced by Bianca Turati (WTA 281). The Italian team is made up of Martina Trevisan, Jasmine Paolini, Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Giulia Gatto-Monticone. Simona Halep (WTA 3), Patricia Maria Ţig, Irina Bara, Mihaela Buzărnescu and Monica Niculescu make up Romania’s team. The first match is scheduled for April 16-17 in Cluj Napoca. (EE)
